Even standing on the sideline with a headset clamped over his ears, Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville knows people complain. It just so happened the Red Raiders’ 31-22 loss against Texas led to more second-guessing than usual. Mostly, the complaints had to do with the offense.

When an opposing quarterback perfectly uncorks two long bombs against a secondary missing three experienced players — as was the case Saturday — reasons are apparent. When an offense doesn’t click on all cylinders, it can be more subtle.

Saturday was the seventh time in Tech’s last 11 Big 12 Conference game for the Red Raiders to be held to no more than 24 points, and they got 27 in another game.

In response to several questions at his weekly Monday press conference, Tuberville explained some of the Red Raiders’ in-game decisions Saturday and, more broadly, offered a peek behind the curtain of the offense.

Tuberville said offensive coordinator Neal Brown gets input from everyone on the offensive staff, but Brown has the last word on play calls.

“I don’t like anybody talking on the phones with the coordinator calling plays,” Tuberville said. “Worst thing you can do is have a head coach and assistants hollering in your ear. ... It’s got to be one guy, one thought, but the thoughts of other people come whether it’s timeout or (when) you’re off the field.”

“Now, Neal will ask me, ‘Run or pass, coach?’” Tuberville said. “‘If this play doesn’t work, if it’s third-and-5, do you want to run it, do you want to pass it?’ And I’ll give him my thought.

“But then he gets the last call. He knows a lot more about it than I do, because I’m over on the defensive side and a lot of times I’m not even watching (the offense). I’m listening to the defense and trying to help them.”

Brown and Tuberville put in their two cents’ worth, Tuberville said. That happens at the beginning of the week.

In-game, it can be controlled chaos at times.

“It’s a lot harder when you’re there calling (plays) and you’ve got about 30, 40 seconds to make that decision,” Tuberville said. “That’s the reason we go freeze a lot of times. You’ll see us line up, we’ll get down and we’re all looking at the formation, and we’ll have one guy in the press box giving Neal the front and one the coverage: ‘Neal, they’re going to be in zero coverage, they’re going to bring five’, and then he’ll call a play.”

However, not many offensive coordinators fly by the seat of their pants. Brown is no exception. When the Red Raiders run a certain play, they’re hoping not only for success in the moment but that it might set up something else for later in the game — a run to set up a play-action pass later, or vice versa.

“Neal calls the plays,” Tuberville said, “but most plays are called two or three plays in advance of what you do, because you try to set things up.

“Any offensive coordinator worth his salt is a guy that knows what he’s going to call. He plans it for the next drive — what formation he wants to run, what personnel, what has worked in the past, do you want to go right or left? And we go back and look at that. Did we change enough? Did we get in too much of a pattern?”

Tuberville said he’s aware of the criticism that comes when the offense doesn’t produce enough.

“I know everybody complains,” he said. “I complain about run-pass ratio sometimes, and we do keep run-pass, right-left on the sideline where I can look at it. I’ll ask them when the defense is on the field how many runs we’ve had, how many passes, how many deep throws, have we thrown enough to Eric Ward, have we played enough tight-end sets, two-back, all those.

“It’s all looked at very thoroughly as you go through a game, as well as going into a game and after the game.”

Tuberville liked Saturday’s offensive plan. The four biggest individual rushing performances by Big 12 running backs this season all had come against Texas’ defense.

Tech ran it 28 times for 112 yards, while receivers Eric Ward and Darrin Moore both had 100-yard games on a combined 15 receptions.

“They had had a problem (defending) downhill with two backs,” Tuberville said. “We did that. We ran three backs. We tried it all.

“We played well enough offensively in terms of moving the ball, making plays. We didn’t turn it over. What beat us was penalties.”

Tech wound up with 441 yards, but for the second game in a row missed chances to score touchdowns.

During Big 12 games, Tech has gone for it on fourth down seven times — only Kansas State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have rolled the dice fewer times. Ryan Bustin’s 11 field-goal attempts are tied for third-most in the Big 12 Conference games.

Early in games, Tuberville is more inclined to take the points than take the risk.

“When you drive, for instance, 60, 70 yards and you’ve got fourth-and-3 or fourth-and-4, you have to take points most of the time,” Tuberville said. “because it’s a huge blow to your offense to come out empty, and it’s also that for your defense. It’s more mental than it is anything else.”

Tech did gamble at least once Saturday, and it backfired. In a move that’s a little against the book, the Red Raiders tried a two-point conversion down 24-22 with more than 16 minutes left in the game. It failed.

By kicking the PAT, Tech would have assured itself of still being in a one-possession game if Texas scored another touchdown. The Longhorns did just that 61/2 minutes later, putting the Red Raiders in a big hole at 31-22.

Tuberville said the staff decided in the middle of the third quarter —— 10 or 15 minute earlier in real time — to go for two if the situation arose.

“You don’t go for two just spur of the moment,” he said, adding that the defense was playing well at that stage of the game. “We also thought, ‘Hey, we need to let these players know we’re trying to win the game.’ We’re trying to get back into it, so if we can score one touchdown and get that two-point play, then it would be huge momentum.”

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all that counts is he has more losses in 3 years than leach had in 10 and almost double the home losses. And the biggest no bowl games. so how smart and knowledgeable can he be. Has he proven anything with the spread off. no hes a joke and needs to go before we are damaged forever.

Coaches are supposed to be good planners. We can see now that Tubby has a plan in place if this season keeps going south. Last year, it was the defensive coordinators fault - even though Tubby is supposed to be a defensive genius and now says he works with the defense. This year it will be the offensive coordinator's fault. Brown will go under the bus, since poor Tubby don't know nothing 'bout birthing no offences. Sometimes you have to wonder just what he does do for his two million bucks a year. There is one job that the head man has to do and can't fob off on anyone else, and that is set the tone for cohesion, respect, and accepting responsibility within the organization. Since Tubby accepts responsibility for nothing he does in or away from football, a person can wonder how well he is doing that task and whether that shows up in the performance of the team.

Tubs doesn't always watch the offense since he spends most of his time with the defense? The head coach should see all parts of the game, not just one part! All aspects of the UT game were a joke! He is a waste of a salary!

And Leach spent time watching and caring about the Defense. He wouldn't even spend scholarships on the defensive side. I think he would rather just let the other team score. Just like his former OC that is at West Virginia.

It seems we take one step forward and two steps back, We have gone from the most productive offense in the Big 12 and nation to one of the least productive. If defense is what we are counting on, we better find a way to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and cover receivers. We are very lucky A&M and Missouri got tired of whippin us every year and left. This year we benefited from the West Virginia and TCU additions. After the stellar performance against UT we'll be lucky to have a half full stadium. Somebody up there needs to figure out how to turn up the offense and tune up the defense before what seamed like such a promising season goes South!

....Thats what tville has preached from day one. The reason for this article seems obvious. Tville is not to blame, after all, he doesn't even pay attention to the offense cuz he is trying to help the defense. He will never take responsibility and this article proves that. Who would want to work for him knowing that.

I like what the defense is doing now (made progress). I like what the offense is trying to do. I do wish we were more of a passing threat... What are the chances of doing like the basketball team did....keep the staff and lose the HC.... It could happen....lol

there were a few bad calls but i agree with Tubs we beat ourselves. Criticizing the play callers didnt just start with Tubs & Brown or at TTU. We are not where we should be because of our coach of 10 years was fired in 2009. I dont know whether we would have been winning championships with him but we could have been contending for championships but due to the coaching change & the consequences of it we are not. We are heading in the right direction as far as getting back to the status quo but we need to see progress towards championships

said it in a interview Tubs let his coaches coach. He would know because he was a Tubs Defensive Coordinator at Auburn & had a Top 10 defense. I dont get the "throwing Neal under the bus" comments. Eric Ward dropped a TD pass in which he was well covered & Kenny Williams ran in for a TD but it was called back for holding. I guess i was the only fan that saw that. We had a chance in this game but we came up short. Its over. Beat KU!

I expect crazy things to fly out of Joe Biden's mouth, but Mr. Tuberville, you have somehow managed to lap "Say-It-Ain't-So-Joe" in that regard.

TUBERVILLE STATES:
“Neal calls the plays, but most plays are called two or three plays in advance of what you do, because you try to set things up."

So, the plays are drawn up in advance, regardless of what happens on the previous play? I guess this might explain, for example, the draw play on 1st down with 30 yards to go. At least we know how this call was made.

TUBERVILLE ALSO STATES:
“When you drive, for instance, 60, 70 yards and you’ve got fourth-and-3 or fourth-and-4, you have to take points most of the time, because it’s a huge blow to your offense to come out empty, and it’s also that for your defense. It’s more mental than it is anything else.”

Mr. Tuberville, it's an even bigger blow to the offense, the defense, the special teams and the team as a whole when YOU lose the game. I just thought you should be aware of that, not that you actually care about your players or their feelings.

That you actually believe the things quoted in this article is cause for great concern. However, the fact that you would confess them to the press, or anyone else, is beyond concerning. Football coaching is not, and should not be, a cookie-cutting endeavor. It requires sound and quick judgment in the heat of battle. And you, sir, have failed miserably, as has Mr. Brown. Perhaps you should take up decorating Christmas trees instead.

I would respectfully ask that you and Mr. Brown do what's best for the Texas Tech football program and resign at the end of this season.

Tuberville has been a parasite on others for much of his career. When he actually does get involved in matters, those matters usually end up stinking to high heaven. Everyone knows the type of guy that would get involved with one other person in a partnership that breaks down into investment fraud. Most of us know the type who gladly take on a role in a ponzi scheme. These same types never apologize, blame whatever on anyone else and they are the type to say one thing and do another at every turn favorable to them. Tuberville is bad for Texas Tech because he is a perpetuation of Texas Tech choosing wrong over right, money over substance and "old school" over merit. Salesmen usually make good recruiters, so he is at least good at probably saying anything a family and player wants him to say.

Your quote ... We are heading in the right direction as far as getting back to the status quo but we need to see progress towards championships?

How so? D has improved, but Leach's last team gave up 22 ppg in conf, better than this team. O is way down. Conf records of 3-5, 2-7 and 3-3 (and lucky not to be 2-4). And we can't defend the Jones. And the brand of football is pedestrian, like every other team.

"Moving in the right direction" ... true, but only compared to the pitiful '11 season, not to where we were w/ Leach, winning 2/3 of CONF games.

With an 8-14 conf record, Tubs would have to win 20 straight conf games to get to an overall 2/3 conf wining percentage. I'll bet money that when Tubs leaves TTU, he will have a cumulative sub-500 record in conference.

Ahhhhhh! How quickly they turn....seems that not to long ago I was being admonished for not recognizing the "championship caliber" coaches TT had managed to acquire! Now......even Tubby has fallen under the bus! Welcome to TT! Or, more affectionately known as "the graveyard of seasons wished"!!

Driving down University Avenue yesterday I noticed a curiously small crowd near Broadway Avenue, with Mr. Tuberville and Mr. Brown in the middle, all of whom were pumping their fists and loudly chanting, "We're Number 25! We're Number 25! We're Number 25!"

We have traded a high octane offense and a questionable defense for an unbelievably average offense and a slightly improved defense (over 3 years ago, just a defense with a pulse would be better than last year). I had really high hopes for this program a few short weeks ago. Theres a gut feeling you get when you feel the wheels starting to come off. I hope that feeling is wrong. But after this article, which was largely negative, the tone wasnt one of hope, but one of "hey it wasnt me, it was him". Now that may be true, but when youre the CEO, eventually, after three years arent you paid to see that the other guys are doing well? Bottom line, our offense isnt even close to the status quo of a few years ago. Defense is better, but obviously not sufficient to compensate for a largely anemic at times offense. The talent is there, perhaps greater than the majority of the Leach years. So what is the difference? This "we gotta run the ball" mentality is out of hand. Sure you need a running game. Leach had one. Remember Taurean Henderson, Shannon Woods, Baron Batch? Maybe he didnt run enough. He didnt have to most of the time. Looks like another case of playing not to lose, instead of playing to win. But through all of this. Outside of Texas, our losses are to #2 K-state and Oklahoma. So we didnt exactly get blown up by Kansas or Baylor. Give it another few weeks, the kids deserve it. If we are out of the top 25 and lose to a bad team, bowl or not, then by all means, bash away. I dont see it. We'll be 8-4. If not, my patience is all gone with this staff and excuses and lack of accountability. There will be more "bashing" than ever, and rightfully so.

* Sure, no losses have been to bad teams, but, alternatively, we haven't beaten any good teams, either.

* This year's D is most decidedly NOT better than Leach's last year. Look it up - < 22 ppg in conf in '09. This year we've given up (in regulation) 13, 41, 14, 36, 55 and 31 for an avg of < 32 ppg in conf. We'll likely hold KU better than than 32, but I wouldn't bet that we'll shut down OSU or BAY. I think it is the recent stench of the '11 D and the fact that Leach's 09 D was one of his best probably unduly influences your D comparison of 09 v. 12. I would say this year's D, giving up ~30 ppg in conf, is about PAR with the totality of the Leach area, although I have calc'd the numbers.

* You are right about the O. I predicted it, once Tubs started talking about "tweaking." Took Don Williams, in a true bit of reporting, to actually show that TTU has scored 24 or less in 8 of its last 11 conf games (or something to that effect). I have yet to hear one announcer state the truth - that while TTU still racks up yards and points in OOC games, the in-conf O results have fallen off a (very high) cliff.

I really cant argue with any of that. Trying to be positive, I guess. It gets harder every day. I guess Im thinking about the players and their level of disappointment, with both this season and , in some cases, their decision to come to Texas Tech. Most of these kids were won over by being part of the spectacle of the first decade of this century because its hard to fathom, they looked at 2010 and 2011 and thought "wow that could be me getting beat 66-6 in front of the home crowd!". I really think we ought to support this group until the end of the year. Then open the flood gates on the coaches and administration. Ive already seen, just on these threads, some of the staunchest Hancers now starting to turn on Tubs and company. Even Dons article was particularly without spin this time. Looks like enough is enough. If I were Tubs, I would take off the leash and let them run for the next three games. Two more losses and hes going to lose what little legitimate support he has now.

i agree with you. I said it before you state the facts in which i dont have an arguement with. When i said status quo i meant wins & losses for the season. Besides you & Coyote, alot of comments on this blog is from complete idiots. I agree with most of your comments & i respect all of your opinions. Hopefully, you respect mines.

I respect all fact-based, civil dialogue. We all want TTU to do well. For 3 years, TTU hasn't. Maybe it will change. We all want it to change. Some of us believe Tubs will never get it done so would rather have him out - NOW - rather than further tarnishing the (offense-related) "brand." Doesn't mean we're anti-TTU or want TTU to lose. Smart, reasonable people can disagree.

Any reasonable person would agree with the following. What happens next, who knows?

* Leach improved the TTU program to national prominence, consistent year-end rankings, a strong winning conference record, and entertaining style of play ... and no championships.
* Tubs did a good job at AUB. Might surprise you to know that AUB was ranked at year-end in only 6 of Tubs' 10 years. Beat ALA 6 straight times, a great feat, even if ALA suffered from probation during some of this period. And AUB won the NC one year, sorta.
* Tubs has had 2 good, not great recruiting classes at TTU. Built on volume, precious few 4* players, roughly the same 3* that Leach recruited, except that Tubs took more of his total allotment in his first two years. That is why TTU recruiting won't be ranked this year. Can't dupe the volume from his first two years.
* Tubs' on-field record is awful. 8-14 in conference. Bad losses, bad home losses. Offense crawls, not runs. Best guess is that TTU goes 5-4 in conf this year, thanks to a 50-50 win against TCU. Could have been 4-5.
* No reason to believe that b/c TTU improved from 9th best to 4th/5th/6th best in conf this year, that TTU will similarly improve next year.

[If the following stats are factually incorrect, please make the necessary corrections]

In his inaugural 2010 season, Tuberville went 3-5 against the Big 12, 2-7 in 2011 and as of today, Tech is 3-3 in the Big 12, with the following wins this season:

NW State W 44-6 NW State is currently 4-5;
Texas State W 58-10 Texas State is currently 3-5;
New Mexico W 49-14 New Mexico is currently 4-6;
Iowa State W 24-13 Iowa State is currently 5-4;
WV W 48-14 WV is currently 5-3; and
TCU W 56-53 TCU is currently 6-3

Since becoming Tech's head coach, Tuberville is currently 8-15 against Big 12 opponents. If we win out (as I hope) and go 9-3 this year, his overall Big 12 record goes to 11-15.

Question: Where do we go from here?

On a personal note, I apologize to the coaches and the readers for letting my frustration spew vile rhetoric through my comments. I am not a "Leacher" (although I miss him) and have never been pre-disposed to be "Anti-Tuberville". I admit I am frustrated and not all that hopeful about Tech's football future (but will try to be so). I also admit that I absolutely hate losing to the Longhorns. However, I am a Tech fan to the core and will make all reasonable efforts to be as supportive to the program as reason and logic allow.

Let's hope Tech wins the Kansas game and otherwise optimistically and collectively look forward to the games that follow. The players deserve that from me and I will be cheering loudly for them at The Jones on Saturday.

Runnin as Ive said before, youre probably the most objective poster on these threads. The nut job hancers, tech tshirt fans who have no real stake in the team or university other than they once saw Adam James and Taylor Charbonet in the mall, and the very few true Leachers who would rather see Tech lose to simply prove Leach was better than Tubs have, over time with few exceptions faded from much participation on these blogs having grown tired of their own utter realistic insignificance. Like Brad, Im in for the long haul when it comes to the players, therefore I try to be positive about their coaches, even with obvious and undisputed failures since the coaching change. Beyond that, there is one director and a group of arrogant "gentlemen" with a monumentally over inflated sense of self importance who, in essence, created the Leachers and Hancers and the harsh reality that, in the absence of a miraculous turn around in 2013, this is an epic fail that we have no control over. Plain and simple, if hance retired or better, got fired and we started from scratch, even through a few losing "growing pains" seasons, the fans would reunite and Raiderland would once again be a pleasant non-contentious place to be. We'll smash Kansas. Beyond that, the next two games are very loseable. We expect the kids to play hard. We should support with the same intensity. But if things continue to go south, then its open season on those who are running the show.

i dont think he'll bolt for the Arkansas or Kentucky jobs because it wouldnt make sense. Arkansas will be at best the 3rd best team in the SEC West Division & doesnt have a recruiting hot bed to pluck players from. Tennessee & Kentucky are not atrractive schools for recruits compared to Georgia & Florida. A 9 win season will be great for recruiting. Hopefully, we can land that JUCO Tight End. If Amaro can stay healthy next season & maybe then the OC can silence his biggest critics & give us a offense that we can be extremely proud of. My support for the coaching staff is still strong. Im going to always support my School. I think we will win the next 3 games until proven otherwise. Wreck'em!

If he wants to be taken seriously for the Arkansas job it would look better on his application. Of course, I have a feeling that the boys who are in charge of spin for uncle Kent are already compiling a list for why its ok for Tubs to flirt with other schools after Leach was burned at the stake in the hance run media for it...1) the fans made him feel unwelcome 2)why shucks Tommy is from Arkansas 3)never fear,we still have Kent etc, etc. Facts youre going to break poor ol nashville and bill214's heart. They were convinced they had converted you into a genuine hancebot. Its kind of funny. Another of the Hancers complains unjustifiably that the "Leachers" only comment after a Tech loss, yet fails to notice the near utter silence of many of the pro Hance gang after a Tech loss. I guess thats harder to realize when their numbers are so small to begin with.

Finally, I understand where you're coming from. "Leachers" want the team to lose games? Not me. You "think we will win the next 3 games until proven otherwise." I would agree with you if you changed "think" to "hope." My guess is we smack KU, lose to OSU (even some of our very good teams didn't beat them in Stillwater), and probably beat BAY. You say what you HOPE, I say what I THINK. I HOPE the same as you.